The efficacy of 2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine (gemcitabine) combined with interferon in human renal cell carcinoma cell lines.

The present in vitro study on three human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines (A-498, ACHN, SN12C) evaluated the efficacy of 2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine (dFdC, gemcitabine), vinblastine (VBL), rhu-interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and rhu-interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) alone or in combinations. The cytotoxicity was measured by using the sulphorhodamine B colorimetric cytotoxicity assay. Analyses were made from cells being continuously long-term (4 weeks) or short-term (4 h) with IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma with regard to the cytotoxicity of the chemotherapeutic agents.

Interferon-alpha and gemcitabine (2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine) in adult and pediatric renal tumors.

2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine (dFdC) is an active anticancer drug in different human malignancies. The present study aimed to evaluate if the activity of dFdC in renal tumors could be improved by interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). The influence of IFN-alpha (4 h) on the cytotoxicity of dFdC was analyzed in vitro by a colorimetric assay.

[Determination of the free thyroxine concentration (FT4) in serum using the FT4 fraction and total thyroxine concentration].

A new equilibrium assay for the determination of serum free thyroxine was evaluated in 514 patients. The assay comprises a two-vial-procedure to measure total thyroxine and free thyroxine fraction by use of monoclonal antibodies. Free thyroxine concentrations are calculated from fT4-fraction and total thyroxine concentration readings.

[Vitamin A and carotene in thyroid diseases].

From 190 goitrous patients (106 euthyroid, 53 hyperthyroid, 31 hypothyroid) serum levels of vitamin A and carotene were obtained. The serum levels of vitamin A were significantly decreased in both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, the serum levels of carotene in hypothyroidism only. Remarkably, vitamin A levels almost never drop to subnormal values in hyperthyroidism.